Pakistan values its ties with Turkey more than many other Muslim countries and perhaps next only to China, now that sharp differences between Saudi Arabia and Iran have raised complications in the ties between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. It is, therefore, hardly surprising that during his visit to Islamabad, Tayyip Erdogan, the Turkish President echoed Pakistan’s line on Kashmir and even gratuitously offered to mediate between India and Pakistan to resolve the issue.

There is strong international support to strengthen and accelerate full implementation of Article 14 of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), as evidenced by the World Conference on Tobacco or Health Declaration in 2015 that “By 2018, at least 50% of FCTC Parties will have developed and published an official national tobacco dependence treatment strategy, in accordance with Article 14 Guideline recommendations”, says Martin Raw, Director, International Centre for Tobacco Cessation, London.

The Sri Lanka High Commission in Ottawa in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) and the Sri Lanka Tea Board participated at the International Tourism and Travel Show 2016 in Montreal.

Norway and International Labour Organisation (ILO) in Sri Lanka have signed a partnership agreement on 22 November to extend the Government of Norway’s support to the conflict affected communities in the North.